Flying-machine



0.1. mm, I FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2.19I8.

1,356,088. Patented Oct. 19,1920.

. 2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

ATTORNEY C. J. BITTER.

FLYING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED APR.2. I918.

1,356,088 Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET Z. 51? a K ig- E T I i INVENTOR (391% J. fi/TTER ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL J. BITTER, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO'J'OHN H. BITTER. AND ONE-FOURTH TO JOHN J'. BITTER, BOTH OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented 0 t 19 1920 Application filed April 2, 1918. Serial No. 226,305.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CARL J. BITT R, citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in flying machines and the object of my inventionis to providea novel and eflicient propelling and lifting device that will operate efficiently whereby the lifting is accomplished by the revolving motion of the wings or planes.

A further object of my invention is to provide a propelling device that may be caused to exert a propelling force in an angular direction, either vertical or horizontal, or between the vertical and horizontal, thus doing away with the necessity of a very large field or space for starting or landing said flying machine.

Astill further object of my invention is to provide an apparatus of this class that may be used in connection with an ordinary screw or blade propeller, or may be used in connection with any form of hydroplane or aeroplane to provide means for exertmg a vertical lift. and that anynumber of these devices may be used, side by side or in tandem if desired.

A still further object of my invention is to provide apparatus of this class that may be used for exerting a propelling force in any medium, in the air, on land, and both on and under water.

I accomplish these obj ectsby devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein+ Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of the side elevation of apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail view illustrating mechanism for driving an eccentric ring; and

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation ofapparatus constructed in accordance with my invention.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 5 designates a transverse shaft that is adapted to be driven 1n any suitable manner which shaft 5 is provided near its respective ends with fixedly mounted hubs 6 and 7, to each of which are secured a plurality of radially projecting spokes or arms 8, the spokes on, the hubs 6 and 7 being disposed in alinement witheach other.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 5 just outside of the hubs 6 and 7 are two eccentric disks 10 and 11 that are each provided with encircling bands or rings 12- and 13, respectivelv that are adapted to rotate around the eccentric disks and each connected by pivots 1 1 with outwardly projecting arms or spokes 15 that correspond in number to the spokes 8.

For the purposeof illustrating my invention I have shown four spokes 8 on each of the hubs 6 and 7 and four of the arms 15 on each of the bands 12 and 13, :but it will be understood that either more or less of such spokes and arms :may be used if desired. 16, 17, 18 and 19 are rectangular or square shaped planes that are each pivotally connected at the two opposite corners of one edge .(or they may be connected in the center of or near the center on the two opposite edges) with the outer ends of the two oppositely disposed spokes 8 and at the two opposite corners of the two other edges with the outer ends of'the two oppositely disposed arms 15 in such manner that when the shaft 5 and rings 12 and 13 are rotated one edge of each plane will travel in a circle described from the center of the eccentric disks 10 and 11 and the other edge will travel in a circle described from thecenter of the shaft5.

Referring to Fig. l which shows a device adapted to be driven in a direction indicated by the arrow it will be seen'that, in the position shown,'the upper plane 16 is disposed at an angle to its direction of movement so that it will catch theair on its lower surface thus producing a lifting effect and the lower plane 18 also disposed at an angle to its direction of movement so that its lower surface will be presented to the air and a lifting effect produced, while the two side planes 17 and 19 are substantially tangent to their direction of movement so that they are practically balanced and offer small re sistance to the air.

As the planes sweep around it will be evident that a pressure of air will be exerted alternately on the two opposite sides of each plane hence the'planes will necessarily be of strong construction to withstand this alternating pressure.

In addition to the parts hereinbefore described my invention also includes means for varying the distance between the center axis of the eccentric disks 10 and 11 and the center of the shaft 5, enabling more or less pitch to be given to the planes 16, 17, 18 and 19, and means for moving the eccentric disks 10 and 11 about the shaft 5, enabling the highest point to be moved to any desired position, it being necessary to design and arrange the gearingso that it will drive the bands 12 and 13 at the same rate of speed as the shaft 5 and will not interfere with the relative adjustment of distance between the shaft 5 and centers of the eccentric disks 10 and 11.

As illustrating one operative means of adjusting the distance between the center of the eccentric disks 10 and 11 and the shaft 5 I have provided members 20 that fit over the shaft 5 at one end and are threaded at the opposite end and pass upwardly through central stud pins 21 in the disks 10 and 11 and are adjustably secured to the pins 21 by nuts 22.

The disks 10 and 11 are slotted as indicated at 23 in Fig. 1 to permit relative movement of the shaft 5.

The bands 12 and 13 are provided on their inner surfaces with internal gears 24; that mesh with pinions 25 that are mounted on pivots 26 on the disks 10 and 11.

The pinions 25 mesh with large gearwheels 27 that are mounted on floating pivots 28 and are made integral or otherwise rigidly connected with smaller gearwheels 30 that mesh with larger gearwheels 31 on the driven shaft 5.

The floating pivots 28 are connected with the pivots 26 and shaft 5 by links 32 and 33, respectively, so that the several gearwheels and pinions will always be held in mesh regardless of movements of the eccentric disks with respect to the shaft 5.

The ratio and relation of the gears above described, is such that the bands 12 and 13 are rotated in the same direction and at the same speed as the shaft 5.

The eccentric disks 10 and 11 may be turned into various angular positions about the shaft 5 by circular members 34 secured thereto and which are loosely journaled on the shaft 5 and provided with slots 35 that fit over the stud pins 21. 1

The members 3 f carry semi-circular racks 36 that mesh with pinions 37 on the ends of vertical shafts 38.

hen the shafts 38 are rotated the pinions 37 will turn the members 3 1 and the eccentric disks 10 and 11 about the shaft 5.

It will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 1 that the direction of application of the propelling force that is developed will be on a line passing through the center of the shaft 5 and the centers of the eccentric disks 10 andll and toward that part of the eccentric disks that are most distant from the shaft 5 so that as the eccentric disks are turned around the shaft 5 the direction in which the force of propulsion is applied will be varied.

10 is a car that is carried below the center of the planes by two frame members 41 that extend upwardly on opposite sides of the planes and engage with the shaft 5. The weight of its contents tends to keep the device in an upright position. a

By varying the distance between the centers of the eccentric disks 10 and 11 and the shaft 5 the inclination of the planes with respect to their direction of motion may be varied thus increasing or decreasing the lifting power of the device.

The direction in which the force of propulsion is exerted may be varied by turning the eccentric disks around the shaft 5.

It will be obvious that changes in the forms, dimensions and arrangement of parts of my invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

WVhat I claim is:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a driven shaft, a plurality of spokes rigidly connected therewith in spaced apart relation, eccentric disks mounted on said shaft, threaded studs carriedby the disks, screw connections between the driven shaft and threaded studs for varying the eccentricity of said disks with respectto said shaft, means for turning said disks about said shaft, rings rotatably mounted on the peripheries of said disks, gearwheels connecting said rings with said shaft for rotating said rings at the same rate of speed and in the same direction as said shaft, arms extending. outwardly from said rings, the spokes and arms diverging toward their outer ends to provide a relatively wide expanse, and planes pivotally connected with the outer ends of said arms and said spokes.

2. A device of the class described, com- 110 prising a driven shaft, a plurality of spokes rigidly connected therewith in spaced apart relation, rings rotatable with said shaft and eccentric thereto, disks for supporting said rings, threaded studs carried by the disks, 115 screw connections between the driven shaft and threaded studs for varying the amount of eccentricity of said rings wlth respect to said shaft, means for turning said rings about said shaft, arms extending outwardly 120 from said rings the spokes and arms diverging toward their outer ends to provide a relatively wide expanse, and planes pivotally connected with the outer ends of said spokes and said arms whereby the relative 125 angle of said planes with respect to their direction of movement will be changed as such planes are rotated.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a driven shaft, a plurality of spokes 130 rigidly connected therewith in spaced apart relation, disks eccentric with respect to said shaft, means for turning said eccentric disks about said shaft, rings rotatable on said disks, threaded studs carried by the disks, screw connections between the driven shaft and threaded studs, arms extending outwardly from said rings, the spokes and arms diverging toward their outer ends to provide a relatively .wide expanse, and planes pivotally connected with the outer ends of said spokes and said arms whereby the relative angle of said planes with respect to their direction of movement willbe changed as such planes are rotated.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 23rd day of March, A. D. 1918.

CARL J. BITTER. 

